PM says she expects to be laughing over Julia
"I expect to be laughing when I watch it," the PM says over that sitcom. And what's coming in Episode 2?
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It is the comedy that has everybody talking.
On Twitter, talkback radio and online, opinions were varied on At Home with Julia. But many leant towards “I was pleasantly surprised.”
While there are more than a number of criticisms that the ABC1 comedy is disrespectful, even the best comedies trigger a reaction. With its touchy subject matter the show was always going to either score or fail, with not much room for in between.
As word of mouth takes hold, the ABC has no plans to replay the episode -but it is available on iView.
Right now everybody wants to know what Julia Gillard and Tim Mathieson thought of it.
She said in New Zealand: “People who know me well know I have a good sense of humour so I expect to be laughing when I watch it.”
That’s exactly the right reponse. If she plays this well, she’ll be admired for being a good sport. And right now she needs all the admiration she can get…
Her minders, who would well remember The Hollowmen, can no doubt give her some words of wisdom here.
Not everyone in the public spotlight shared her good temperament.
Therese Rein called it “pretty rough, frankly”.
John Howard told The Australian, “I think the office deserves a certain respect and I’m not sure that that program gives it. The ABC is entitled to run the program because it is a free country, but I choose not to watch it. I think (Ms Gillard) is open to legitimate criticism on all sorts of things, but I think that program is disrespectful to the current Prime Minister and I don’t intend to watch it.”
Bill Shorten (apparently) said, “I’d rather be played on TV by a terrier than a lapdog or poodle.”
And TV Tonight understands Wayne Swan refused to watch it on principle (let’s hope there are no cuts coming, Auntie).
Still to come on the show are Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and an episode on gay marriage.
Here’s what’s in store for Episode Two: “Code Ranga”:
With Julia set to guest star at Tim’s public hairdressing event, a national emergency is sparked when she accidentally locks herself in The Lodge bathroom and fails to show up, leading security to believe she’s been kidnapped by terrorists. Meanwhile, Tim tries to prove the whole thing’s yet another prank by three naughty neighbourhood kids who find it endlessly hilarious that he’s a male hairdresser.
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- Tagged with At Home with Julia, The Hollowmen
9 Responses
Gee, some pollies can be precious can’t they? I thought it was fun.
Her impersonation of Gillard’s accent is so off the mark and the plot was boring as. It had nothing of value to say about politics and as expected, it wasn’t even remotely funny. So basically, it fails on all fronts (as a comedy/satire, as a TV show, as a political commentary)
@Josh – it was actually Kevin Rudd PM on Rove. I actually found it to be quite the highlight of Rove, and was sad when Rove left the screens as it would mean no more Kevin Rudd PM. 🙁
Hear, hear @daveinprogress!
And what’s great is that this show is a co-pro, proving yet again that the external production sector is more than capable of pitching and producing classy water-cooler material for the national broadcaster.
I’m in two minds about this.
On the one hand, there are no ‘sacred cows’ in Oz and it’s fun to laugh at others’ shortcomings, but honestly, no matter what they may say about being a good sport, who enjoys being mocked or made fun of – and on a National scale too?
What if there was a mockumentary made of no-life tragics called “steveany”, “daveinprogress”, “D@GP” & “David Knox” who sat around gossiping on TV websites instead of doing something useful with their time? We’d be portrayed as sad, fat, balding, loveless, KFC-eating losers because that’s the hilarious stereotype. I wouldn’t like it one bit.
No wonder politics attracts such unimpressive types – what decent, capable person would want the job?
It is simple, the Australian PM has always been mocked on television and it is how the PM responds to how the country looks at them. Look at the case of Howard PM (the skit on Rove) which had PM Howard mocked about his latest decisions and how he went about them, and if I recall he had nothing bad (or good) to say about it which meant the Australian public didn’t look at him any differently. As both shows are comedies, it just needs to be laughed at then reality needs to be remembered. Simple as that.
Fo the few (including the odd ex-PM) who believe The Office should be treated with ‘respect’, it’s obvious they’ve never stumbled over a little 5 min segment that runs 5 days a week on many commercial radio stations around Australia called “How Green Was My Cactus”.
This show has run for more than 20 years and, at its best, is an absolute brilliant reflection of Australia’s politics.
it may be disrespectful but let’s not forget our Aussie sense of humour… remember the Keating musical?
anyway… loved the show, was done tastefully anyway. Love the premise that the negotiations with the independent all boiled down to the right cup of tea.
When I worked in comedy at the ABC i was told “there are no sacred cows”, and while i am the first to criticse my former employer for losing its way across so many genres in recent years, this sitcom is exactly what the ABC does best. It is risky, it is satiric and lord knows whatever the ABC does it is accused of bias, so whether people think this is disrespecful or just a bit of fun, it is the national broadcaster adhering to its charter, and paving the way with ideas and execution. Australia has never had a Yes Minister or That’s My Bush – and satire has been limited to Backberner and the Chaser in the past decade, so i think this is a welcome return of both the sitcom form & the satiric edge that the ABC was historically celebrated for with The Gillies Report, Australia You;re Standing in it etc. More More More!